Immigration protest held in Moses Lake Saturday

MOSES LAKE — Saturday afternoon, around 250 people gathered in protest of immigrant deportations on the sidewalks along North Stratford Road in Moses Lake. 

According to several protesters, there were sightings of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement trucks spotted in both Othello and Warden on Friday and Saturday. However, this information could not be confirmed by press time. The Columbia Basin Herald will have a follow-up article regarding the issue.  

“I just don't understand how one can be deported, how someone can be illegal, on stolen land,” protestor Paul Balderas said. “I just feel like it's important, like the reason that I'm here is because these people are being deemed evil; people are deemed stealing; people that are deemed to be unworthy of placement in this country. How could I not be for the celebration of my people. This is my heritage, and we deserve to be here.”  

People were holding signs, American and Mexican flags, singing, chanting and waving at passing cars. Some drivers were responding positively, with honking horns, waves, and gestures of encouragement. However,others were seen flipping protesters off, giving them thumbs down and making other gestures of disapproval.   

“I'd say it’s been about 85% positive,” Balderas said. “That's what surprised me. I originally thought that there was going to be more negative passersby.”  

Protester Ava Vasquez said people are also out to show there is support and love for immigrants in the area. 

“Although this may not fix everything, I believe support is the most important part, at least in my opinion,” Vasquez said. “We're just out here. The whole community is out joining forces. This is just — this is so inspiring. We're overcoming the hatred that we're even seeing in the people that are just passing by.” 

Betsaida Martinez, another protestor, said she was there to negate the fear many are struggling with regarding the potential for mass deportations.  

“With everything going on too, like there's a lot of fear going on, there is a lot of fearmongering happening and just a lot of fear that people will be removed from their homes,” Martinez said. “So, the fact that we're not alone, and that there's other people that are going through it too, it just makes it 10 times better, that there's a family. Because at the end of the day, we're all family, and everyone's welcome. Everyone should be welcome in this country.”  

Protest participant Raymond Perez said he is particularly upset with how people are treating those they assume are immigrants. 

“Just recently, since the president said he was going to deport all the Mexicans and stuff, I have noticed more hostility towards brown people,” Perez said. “It’s frustrating because they will make snarky comments in grocery stores, bunch of produce in their cart and I just wonder if they know who picked, processed and made it so they could buy their fresh foods. And like, how do they even know if the brown person they are being (a jerk) to is illegal or is this just making racism okay again?”